World Bank Supports Improved Connectivity and Emergency Response in Cambodia

Cambodia will improve the condition, safety, and climate resilience of a key national highway, with US$110 million in additional financing approved today by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors. The additional support to the Road Asset Management Project II (RAMP II) is also expected to provide an immediate and effective response in case of an emergency.

The most direct corridor linking Phnom Penh to Cambodia’s only deep-sea port in Preah Sihanouk province, National Road 4 endures heavy traffic through several economic zones and rich agricultural areas including some large-scale farms. Through this additional financing more than 200 kilometers will be upgraded with an overlay of asphalt concrete, shoulders will be replaced and drains and bridges will be built along flood prone areas.

5 ways to make the most of Philippine education investments

Investing in education is a priority for most Filipinos.

This month, millions of students nationwide started the new school year in the Philippines. Good education is key to a successful life and an important driver of economic growth.

In the Philippines, it is not unusual for families to pawn their last asset to support their child’s education. But with education costs rising and the job market uncertain, returns to education are not necessarily viewed as being commensurate to education-related investments.

Families and policy makers alike are looking to understand how to better invest in education and maximize positive outcomes. To support this effort, ADB partnered in 2017 with the Philippine Department of Education to conduct the Youth Education Investment and Labor Market Outcomes Survey (YEILMOS).

It’s time to end malnutrition in South Asia

Chronic malnutrition remains prevalent across South Asia as many poor South Asians cannot afford nutritious foods or don’t have the relevant information or education to make smart dietary choices.

In Sri Lanka, as in the rest of South Asia, improving agricultural production has long been a priority to achieve food security.

But growing more crops has hardly lessened the plight of malnutrition.

Chronic malnutrition remains prevalent across the region as many poor South Asians cannot afford nutritious foods or don’t have the relevant information or education to make smart dietary choices.
And children and the poorest are particularly at risk.

Regenerative PPPs (R+PPP): Designing PPPs that keep delivering

Photo: Misako Kuniya | Flickr Creative Commons

The time is ripe to explore innovative ways to implement PPPs through a synthesis of sustainable and resilient best practices that progressively improve delivery and outperform original expectations.

During my recent travels as a PPP advisor to Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, I worked closely with public sector leaders who are increasingly focused on procuring a new generation of PPPs that are meaningful, sustainable, resilient, people-focused, and will support their governments’ goals of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).